Tatiana Hazel
What has been on your mind lately?
I’ve just been thinking about how fucked up the world is honestly. Between natural disasters and manmade disasters I am trying to be hopeful and think of ways in which I personally can help. I think music is so powerful and I want to be able to bring hope and joy to others, even if it’s just writing a song.
What is your favourite thing about Chicago?
My favorite thing about Chicago is the tight-knit creative community we have here. So many creatives flee to New York and LA, so when people are doing their thing in Chicago everyone knows about it. It’s also just beautiful as fuck. I love my city.
What is your earliest memory of music?
I have two older sisters who had very different tastes in music from each other growing up (heavy metal and hip-hop). I remember stealing their CD’s and portable CD player and listening to everything from Missy Elliott to Slipknot. I also remember watching them make cassettes by recording their favorite house DJ mixes on the radio and at the time thinking I wanted to be a DJ when I grew up. I was about 11.
Who are your main musical influences?
I would say my writing has been heavily influenced by Amy Winehouse and how honest she is in her music. Musically I draw a lot of inspiration from Blondie, I love how they incorporated so many genres into their music. Vocally, I think the shakiness in my voice was brought out when I was a little girl listening to Shakira’s album Dónde Están Los Ladrones, and also the Cranberries. It’s so hard to pinpoint my influences. I listen to so many different genres of music in both Spanish and English and I feel that I draw inspiration from everything both consciously and subconsciously.
What's the best advice you’ve ever been given?
My parents have always told me to do what makes me happy and that a positive outlook attracts positive outcomes in life.
Images courtesy of TATIANA HAZEL
words HANNAH GLENN
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